CrowdFunding promotion Trobla: A wooden amplifier for iPhone and other smartphones

About this project

In this day of e-waste and fast consumption, smartphones are a common reality, and while the thought of ridding ourselves completely of all hard-to-recycle gadgets is not realistic, the way in which we use these products is.

Walnut Trobla and Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge

We use our smartphones to play music, yet we find it frustrating that their tiny speakers are not strong enough to set any sort of atmosphere. We like to work with wood, so we set ourselves the challenge of creating an amplifier that doesn’t require a single electronic component.

Walnut Trobla and iPhone 6

We have developed a product whose function lies in its simplicity and sustainability. With no complex technology involved, all emphasis is centered on quality sound. And, you don’t need an app for that.

Walnut on the left, maple on the right

Personalized Trobla Reward - you choose what you want engraved

SOUND

We designed and tested multiple prototypes to make our amplifier live up to its name. Trobla is the Slovenian word for horn, and we want to orchestrate the best sound a horn can produce. The secret lies in getting it to come out as smooth as possible from your smartphone through the amp. We used a cone to keep tones sharp and created a special chamber to enhance the stereophony and low frequencies.

PLAY

FUNCTION

Trobla is made to be adaptable to the diversity of smartphones available today and in the future. By focusing on devices with speakers on the bottom, we developed a system of detachable pieces (adapters) that can be easily interchanged to fit different generations of iPhone or other smartphone models

Each suitable smartphone has its own detachable piece (adapter)

PLAY

HANDSOME AND ON THE GO

Whether you’re setting the mood on a picnic, leading a yoga class, or cooking with friends, Trobla has got you covered. It is light in weight and can easily be thrown into your bag, so you can create atmosphere wherever you go.

The feeling of wood in your hands connects you back to nature, where this wood was sourced. The design and function make Trobla an object of desire in sight and sound.

TOK TOK Lifestyle Package Reward

WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP

A lot of handwork and material goes into building one single Trobla. Backing us means we will be able to procure new tools, equipment, materials for production, and set up our production process.

SPECIFICATIONS AND SHIPPING

TIMELINE

Once we reach our goal, we will start production immediately because everything is set and ready to go. We only need to purchase wood, magnets, and make the necessary tools. The earlybird Troblas will be shipped in the first half of June, while the others will be shipped late June/July.

Risks and challenges

The Trobla is a product that we’ve been working on for almost 15 months. We made our first prototype completely by hand and then tried to produce a larger amount, only to discover that it’s impossible to work this way. We searched for solutions and obtained access to a CNC cutting machine that will make our work much easier, allowing us to focus on the details. We still glue and sand each Trobla by hand because we want to ensure quality production.

We have also tested prototypes for the tools we’ll need to make such as the press and sanding adapters. We have established contact with wood suppliers and have secured worldwide delivery for Trobla.